Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M.K. Stalin on Saturday, 9 May welcomed the decision of several alliance partners to extend support to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in forming the next state government, while pledging that the DMK would serve as a constructive Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

A Fractured Mandate and No Clear Majority

In a detailed statement addressed to party cadres and the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin acknowledged that the recent Assembly election had produced a fractured public mandate, with no political party securing a clear majority. He noted that while the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance did not obtain the requisite strength to retain power, it had received substantial support from voters across the state.

Stalin said that immediately after the election results were declared, he had publicly committed that the DMK would not obstruct the formation of a new government and would instead discharge its duties as a responsible Opposition. He added that newly elected DMK legislators, at a meeting held under his leadership, had authorised him to take an appropriate decision after consulting senior party leaders and alliance partners.

Stability Over Another Election

Emphasising the need for political stability, Stalin said that in a situation where no party had secured the required majority, triggering a fresh election would be detrimental to the state. He said he respected the decision of alliance partners to extend support to the TVK while continuing to remain part of the DMK-led secular progressive alliance on the basis of shared ideology and policy principles.

Congress Departure and Alliance Solidarity

Stalin noted a significant development in the post-poll landscape: the Congress MLAs who had contested as part of the alliance did not visit Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, after the results were announced, and the party subsequently moved away from the DMK-led alliance.

Despite this, Stalin expressed gratitude to several leaders who stood firmly with the DMK during what he described as a politically challenging period. He specifically named Communist leaders R. Shanmugam and A. Veerapandian, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Chief Thol Thirumavalavan, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Kader Mohideen, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, MMK leader M.H. Jawahirullah, KMDK founder E.R. Eswaran, and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader Tamimun Ansari.

Welfare Schemes Must Continue, Stalin Urges

Stalin said the DMK government had transformed Tamil Nadu over the last five years through a range of welfare and development programmes. He urged the incoming TVK-led government to continue schemes aimed at women, youth, students, children, government employees, and marginalised communities, so that the benefits already reaching citizens would remain uninterrupted.

He concluded his statement by extending his best wishes to the new TVK government likely to be formed in Tamil Nadu, signalling a cooperative, if competitive, political transition in the state.